Molded container

ABSTRACT

A molded container, particularly for the packaging of frangible articles, such as eggs. The container is characterized by a tray having a plurality of cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar articles, which may vary slightly in size and contour, but each having a transverse crosssection which is essentially circular. Contiguous ones of the cells are separated by a post having essentially vertical webs extending transversely of the long dimension of the carton and outward of the longitudinal planes connecting the center lines of the cells. These webs effectively separate the eggs at their greatest dimension, and they fair downward into generally horizontal webs giving the loaded carton good beam strength longitudinally thereof. Generally horizontally extending webs are provided between the posts and provide good beam strength to the loaded carton in directions transversely thereof.

United States Patent Donaldson [151 3,662,943 [4 1 May 16, 1972 MOLDED CONTAINER [72] Inventor: David Donaldson, Wilmington, Del.

Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Alfred N. Goodman Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg ABSTRACT A molded container, particularly for the packaging of frangible articles, such as eggs. The container is characterized by a tray having a plurality of cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar articles, which may vary slightly in size and contour, but each having a transverse cross-section which is essentially circular. Contiguous ones of the cells are separated by a post having essentially vertical webs extending transversely of the long dimension of the carton and outward of the longitudinal planes connecting the center lines of the cells. These webs effectively separate the eggs at their greatest dimension, and they fair downward into generally horizontal webs giving the loaded carton good beam strength longitudinally thereof. Generally horizontally extending webs are provided between the posts and provide good beam strength to the loaded carton in directions transversely thereof.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 16, 1972 3,662,943

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR DAVID DONALDSON BY W WJJ M ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1972 3,662,943

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVEMTC-R DAVID DONALDSON :2 L (F, lgdm ATTCFQHF (Y1 Patented May 16, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR DAVID DONALDSON BY 2 a 4 ATTORNEYS MOLDED CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to containers for frangible articles, such as eggs or the like, and more particularly to containers formed from mouldable material and adapted to retain articles of slightly varying size and contour.

2. The Prior Art Containers of this general type are generally moulded from foamed styrene. This invention is directed to the provision of structure giving good beam strength to the loaded both longitudinally and transversely thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the present invention contemplates the provision in each article retaining cell of essentially vertical webs extending from vertical posts located between contiguous ones of the cells, such webs extending laterally beyond the center line of the cell and fairing into generally horizontal webs providing good beam strength in the long direction of the loaded carton. It also comprehends the provision of generally horizontal webs between contiguous posts and fairing into adjacent cells to give good beam strength to the loaded canon in the short direction thereof.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention, the container being shown in its open position ready to be loaded;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof showing the cover in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, showing details of the invention structure;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, certain parts being shown in elevation, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved container according to the present invention is referred to by the reference numeral 10 and is preferably formed in a moulding operation using foamed styrene as a moulding material. Container 10 includes a tray portion 11, and a cover portion 12 hingedly connected to an edge of the tray portion 11 by an integrally moulded hinge 13. A locking flap 14 is connected to tray 11 by an integrally formed hinge 16, and locks to a front wall 17 of the cover portion 12. Details of such locking structure form no part of the present inven tion, and accordingly are not described in detail herein.

The tray portion 11 includes a deck 18 having a plurality of cup-shaped cells 19 which depend therefrom. Contiguous ones of the cells 19 are separated by a truncated post 21 which also forms part of contiguous cells 19. The latter has a top surface 22 contacting the underside of a cover panel 23 of the cover portion 12 when the container is closed.

Each of the cup-shaped cells 19 has a bottom surface 24, and rib members 26 extend upward therefrom to engage the sides of the article as it moves to position to the bottom of cell 19 during the loading operation.

Each of the truncated posts 21 is provided with generally vertical laterally extending webs 2,7. These form barriers between contiguous ones of the cells 19 in a longitudinally extending row. Each of the webs 27 extends laterally as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 beyond a plane marking the center lines of the cells 19, so that each web 27 contacts an egg E at its widest extremity, and extends above such point on the egg. Each web 27 fairs downward along a face 28 in divergent directions to form a web 29 having a somewhat lateralextent, web 29 fairing toward the deck 18 along a face 31. The construction aforesaid provides web material giving considerable strength to carton l0, when loaded, in a longitudinal direction.

Structure is provided to give good beam strength to the loaded carton in a lateral direction. To this end laterally extending cells 19 between a pair of truncated posts 21 have webs 32, see FIG. 5, connecting the adjacent cells 19. The planes of these webs 32 are below the plane of the deck 18, and when the tray is loaded, webs 32 give resistance to bending in a plane extending laterally of the tray. The webs, being essentially planar, instead of being in the shape of an inverted V, prevent any hinge effect giving rise to deformation in a laterally extending plane.

I claim:

1. In a container formed from mouldable material and having a generally rectangular tray, said tray comprising:

a. a deck extending in a generally horizontal plane;

b. a plurality of similar, generally cup-shaped cells extending downward from said deck, each of said cells receiving one of a number of similar frangible articles such as eggs, and being generally circular in transverse cross-section;

c. a post located between contiguous ones of said cells and extending above the plane of said deck;

d. a generally vertical web extending slightly above the plane of said deck and laterally of said post a small distance outwardly beyond a longitudinal plane connecting the lines of centers of said cells;

i. said web being adapted to contact said article at a maximum diameter thereof and separate said article from contiguous ones of said articles;

ii. said web fairing downward from the upper portions thereof to a plane disposed as a generally horizontal web below the plane of said deck and providing beam strength in a longitudinal direction to said tray when loaded;

e. a generally horizontal web connecting a pair of cells disposed to the sides of said posts and extending laterally of said tray and disposed below the plane of said deck for providing stiffness of said tray in a lateral direction when loaded. 

1. In a container formed from mouldable material and having a generally rectangular tray, said tray comprising: a. a deck extending in a generally horizontal plane; b. a plurality of similar, generally cup-shaped cells extending downward from said deck, each of said cells receiving one of a number of similar frangible articles such as eggs, and being generally circular in transverse cross-section; c. a post located between contiguous ones of said cells and extending above the plane of said deck; d. a generally vertical web extending slightly above the plane of said deck and laterally of said post a small distance outwardly beyond a longitudinal plane connecting the lines of centers of said cells; i. said web being adapted to contact said article at a maximum diameter thereof and separate said article from contiguous ones of said articles; ii. said web fairing downward from the upper portions thereof to a plane disposed as a generally horizontal web below the plane of said deck and providing beam strength in a longitudinal direction to said tray when loaded; e. a generally horizontal web connecting a pair of cells disposed to the sides of said posts and extending laterally of said tray and disposed below the plane of said deck for providing stiffness of said tray in a lateral direction when loaded. 